WAiFF
FOUNDERS
2026
A TEAM OF
VISIONARY LEADERS
The World A.I. Film Festival (WAiFF) is backed by visionary leaders and pioneering organisations united by a common mission: to unleash the creative potential of artificial intelligence in service of cinema while respecting ethics and creators’ rights.
Charles Ange Ginésy
President of the Alpes-Maritimes Department and the Maison de l’intelligence artificielle
The Alpes-Maritimes Department, under the leadership of President Charles Ange Ginésy, is pursuing an ambitious innovation policy through SMART Deal, a comprehensive program driving the region’s digital transformation. As part of this initiative, the Maison de l’Intelligence Artificielle (MIA)—the first of its kind in Europe—plays a key role in raising awareness and building A.I. literacy, fostering innovation and cooperation within the French Riviera’s technology ecosystem while driving national and international momentum.
Drawing on its cultural expertise through museums, cinema, departmental media libraries, and events, the Department also supports the intersection of artificial intelligence and artistic creation, promoting accessible use of these technologies.
David Lisnard
Maire de Cannes
David Lisnard has been Mayor of Cannes since 2014, winning re-election in 2020 with 88% of the vote. Since 2021, he has served as President of the Association of French Mayors. Born in 1969 in Limoges, he is a former merchant and entrepreneur who graduated from Sciences Po. Throughout his career, he has held various local and national leadership positions, including head of the Cannes Lérins metropolitan area.
An author of several works on politics and culture, Lisnard champions civic responsibility, sound public financial management, and cultural development. He is married with three children and comes from a long-established Cannes family
Marco Landi
WAIFF Founder
Marco Landi, former president of Apple and an iconic figure in the field of artificial intelligence, is the founder and main sponsor of the festival. Co-founder of the EuropIA Institute, he has always been a strong advocate of ethical and creative A.I.
The EuropIA Institute, based in Sophia Antipolis, is a pioneering organization dedicated to raising awareness and training the general public on the challenges of artificial intelligence. By supporting the WAiFF, the EuropIA Institute demonstrates the immense potential of A.I. in film creation.
Jean-Edouard ANDRÉ
Festival Director
A producer and director for several film programs (France Télévisions), he has brought together renowned directors and emerging talents of the seventh art for several magazine-style series (in partnership with the Cinémathèque Française and Radio France). Holding a doctorate and teaching at prestigious institutions (Sciences Po, CELSA-Sorbonne, VR-3D schools), he drives the evolution of film professions and the transformation of teaching methods in the age of AI. A specialist in complex project management, he leads strategic initiatives for the Festival (AI cluster, training) and guides its public and private partners toward new directions. Within WAIFF, he structures the dialogue between creation and innovation in the Pro Talks, to better connect cinema and AI creation.
Julien RAOUT
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR & OFFICIAL PARTNER
Julien Raout is a film director and creative producer specialized in generative artificial intelligence. As Artistic Director of WAiFF – the World AI Film Festival – he contributes to shaping the festival’s editorial line, coordinates its international editions and connects creators, producers and technology innovators around a shared vision of AI-powered cinema.
Founder of Studio Laffitte in Sophia Antipolis, he develops AI-driven films, visual campaigns and hybrid productions for cultural institutions, brands and international events. His work spans the entire creative process, from concept development to post-production, combining technological innovation with strong artistic standards.
Through conferences, workshops and international collaborations, he actively contributes to structuring responsible and professional uses of AI within the creative industries.
Sarah Lelouch
Official Partner
An innovative producer, Sarah Lelouch is the founder of two major initiatives:
- TechCannes Business Club : This business network connects players in cinema and tech to stimulate innovation, explore new financing methods and build an ecosystem where technology fuels creativity.
- ClapAction : This revolutionary platform invites the public to actively participate in cinematographic creation. By connecting creators, audiences and new writing, ClapAction builds an educational and participatory dialogue to reinvent the link with cinema.
As co-organizer, Sarah Lelouch enriches WAiFF with her expertise in community building and her commitment to innovative cinema to remind us that technology, while essential, will never replace talent.
David Defendi
OfficiAl Partner
David Defendi, award-winning screenwriter (Emmy Awards 2012) and co-founder of GENARIO, is a key player in technological innovation applied to film production.
GENARIO, WAiFF’s official technology partner, is a French artificial intelligence platform dedicated to screenwriting. Its innovative technology supports authors, screenwriters and creators by ensuring respect for intellectual property while exploring new narrative forms. By supporting WAiFF, Genario facilitates the spotlighting of new talents and visionary stories.
Together, these partners and visionaries are building a unique Festival, celebrating the harmony between art and technology.
Maxime VALETTE
OfficiAl Partner
Maxime Valette is a French entrepreneur and web developer specializing in data analysis and artificial intelligence applied to media. He began coding at the age of 7 and founded his first company at 15, selling domain names. At 18, he co-founded Beta&Cie and launched internationally successful projects such as Vie de Merde and FMyLife.
As the founder of BetaSeries, he is developing a leading ecosystem for the audiovisual industry, integrating innovative A.I. solutions for the analysis, prediction, and monetization of OTT content.